🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1991Jan16.035358.28312@nuchat.sccsi.com>, steve@nuchat.sccsi.com (Steve Nuchia) writes:
> 
> And more dangerous speculation.
> 
> If any of the above comes as a surprise, you should probably limit
> your electrical handy-man efforts to replacing dead parts in existing
> circuits and maybe cook-booking low current (<= 20 A) branch circuits.
> Find and *use* a cookbook though, don't try to wing it.  And don't
> believe the salescritters at the hardware store either.  Some know
> what they're talking about, but unless you know what they're talking
> about you can't tell them apart from the ones who don't.
> 
> If you want to do something that is beyond your certain knowledge,
> get out the phone book and call some of the small (ie, one-man)
> electricians.  Chances are you can find one who will agree to check
> your work (and/or plans).  You save money and still have the comfort
> of a journeyman's OK.  Do I need to add that you shouldn't expect
> to get his time for free?
> 
> Finally, I've probably messed up some of the above.  With probability 1,
> I'm misusing some technical terms.  I'm not interested in being corrected
> about trivial things, though substantive corrections are most welcome.
> This is not a professional opinion.  You get what you pay for.
> Be careful out there.
> -- 
> Steve Nuchia	      South Coast Computing Services      (713) 964-2462


The only thing in Steve's posting I take issue with is his
disclaimer.  He hasn't messed up -=- a nice job of describing
what seems to the high tech boys as something as complicated
as a doorbell circuit.

The routing by which some sort of energy is converted to the
juice in our wall plugs, the technology and the work schedules
of ALL those in the industry has to be lived with to be appreciated.

The miracle is that it is kept as dependable as it is, and that
there are so few instances of property damage and injuries associated.

And, really, most of this latter is traceable to the Do-It-Youself-ers
and the lower levels of self-defined professionals.

As in every other essential field, the really good people are hard
to find, but end up being the cheapest.  How do you find them?

Good question.   They work by referral.  Only the people who can't
get referral and repeat business need big advertising, so in general,
the bigger the yellow pages ad the poorer the quality.  (The extreme
is the tradesman or professional with unlisted phone.   It does happen.)

One good caveat:  Don't pay any mind to the UL label on electrical
devices.  Look for the CSA (SA in a broken circle = C).  The Canadians
are much more realistic in deciding what's safe to use than USA.
Please note that many of the cheapie switches and receptacles at the
hardware store LACK the CSA marking.  This is a good indication that
they'd be over priced if they were FREE.

I don't like the idea of the d-i-y doing his own house wiring or 
repairs even with cookbook in hand.  I've seen too many bad, and
some VERY bad results.

A competent hands-on engineer certainly should be able to do any
wiring work. Experience and practical engineering skills are
more important than being able to read the cookbook.  But the 
general rule should be:  If y ou have to ask, don't try to do it.